West Coast Groundfish Trawl Quota Share Owner Survey Overview

Data collection to support a sustainable U.S. West Coast groundfish fishery.

West Coast

The Northwest Fisheries Science Center and the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) developed the Quota Share Owners Survey to better understand the participation of quota share owners in the West Coast trawl groundfish fishery.

Why Expand the Economic Data Collection (EDC) Program to Quota Share Owners?

We designed the current EDC form to collect detailed economic data from vessels and buying/processing companies; however, we did not collect data from quota share permit (QS) owners. The PFMC expanded the EDC to examine the rate and characteristics of quota share owners' participation in the fishery. Changes in the rate and nature of participation over time could have economic implications for fishing communities.

What Types of Data Are Collected?

The quota share owners survey collects just two types of data: 1.) Descriptions of each quota share owner's fishery participation, and 2.) Quota sale earnings. Each quota share owner needs to complete these descriptions for the renewal of 2021 Quota Share Permits. Examples of descriptions include vessel owner, family member, etc. Owners will only need to denote changes in subsequent years.

What Important Dates Should I Be Aware Of?

Owners must submit completed forms electronically no later than November 30, 2020.

Who is Responsible for Submitting Ongoing Information Starting in 2020?

All owners of a Quota Share permit and account.

What Happens to the Data Once Submitted?

Fishery managers use the data to determine whether the Catch Share Program meets its goals:

Increasing the fishery's net economic benefits.
Creating individual economic stability for participants.
Providing full utilization of the trawl sector groundfish allocation.
Achieving individual accountability of catch and bycatch.

Who Has Access to These Data? Are They Confidential?

Responses are confidential under 402(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 USC 1801, et seq.) and NOAA Administrative Order 216-100. NMFS will not publish any information based on fewer than three survey responses. We will report a summary statistic if one observation makes up more than 90% of the total value in a given category. We comply with the MSA to ensure that the identity of the submitter will only be accessible to the following: personnel within NMFS responsible for the collection, processing, and storage of the statistics; federal employees who are responsible for FMP development, monitoring, and enforcement; personnel within NMFS performing research that requires confidential statistics; other NOAA personnel on a demonstrable need-to-know basis; NOAA/NMFS contractors or grantees who require access to confidential statistics to perform functions authorized by a Federal contract or grant. In the case of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the data, the NMFS will seek to protect the data from release through Exemption 4 by noting the data are confidential and highly sensitive business data.

What Happens if I Don't Submit the Quota Share Owner Survey Form?

We will not consider the quota share permit renewal package complete until the owner submits the survey for that permit, as specified at § 660.140, subpart D.